View from my kitchen window II

I know I sound like a cracked record but this sunset was amazing, half burning sky, half baby blue. I love skies like this; so unreal that if I painted them they would look artificial and contrived but created by nature they take ones breath away.

Taranaki

The view from my kitchen window at sunset. I couldn't think of a more glorious place to live.

www.fernpetrie.com

www.fernpetrie.com

Honour Before All

Possibly one of the best sentiments on which to build a life;

Festival of Light

Above: The main lake. Below: Illuminated Poets Bridge, Right: The haunted canopy

Tonight we went down to Pukekura Park for the Festival of Light. It was enchanting meandering through the walkways crowded with glowing tree ferns and lanterns. You can take an illuminated boat out onto the lake and paddle around in the calm darkness. We watched people drifting around for a while then went exploring; gorging ourselves on the the glorious interplay of colour, light and shadow as children drifting through a dream.

Joan

At the moment anything which references Joan of Arc is fascinating to me and for some reason that I can't quite fathom I am also obsessed with gorgeous ink wells. I love the movement and the thick stylized figures of horse and rider in this sculptural piece. It's beautiful the way the sculptor has emphasized movement in the upward thrust of the arm and the curved banner. Right now I have just started work on a painting of Joan of Arc on horseback being lead by an angel and it seems appropriate to have this wonderful piece beside me possibly holding my brushes as I paint.

Merry Christmas

Christmas morning in New Plymouth

The first Christmas dinner in our new house.

Mahl Stick

Winston Churchill painting with a mahl stick.

When I started painting in 2009 my dad gave me his Winsor & Newton mahl stick and it has been an invaluable tool ever since. It's designed to be long enough so that you can support your hand while painting to avoid smudging freshly painted areas. I use mine constantly.

Unfortunately in the move it disappeared and I struggled without one for the past couple of months until I came to the point where I couldn't successfully continue without the aid of this handy tool. I had a look online but all you can buy is a nasty piece of wood or metal with an untidy ball at the end; joyless creations built economically with utilitarianism in mind. 

I happily spend the greater part of my life in front of the canvas in a Victorian room I am filling with treasures. To me it is not enough that something works, I want it to be beautiful too. To that end I decided to try to make a mahl stick my own way and this is the result:

This mahl stick is composed of a broken parasol handle of varnished wood and what I can only suppose is bakerlite or possibly bone, tipped with engraved silver. I've made a leather ball from my leather craft supplies and finished it off with antique ribbon and leather cord. It's light, and as I picked up the broken parasol in a little English bric-a-brac store ten years ago, surprisingly cheaper than buying an online version and makes me happy to look at and use everyday.

A Delicate Confusion

My latest finished work 'A Delicate Confusion' is a miniature commission in the style of works from my last exhibition. It was a real pleasure to paint this piece, it makes me want to make more!

Coronation Cushion

A few months ago the History Channel showed a series of documentaries on the tragic love story of Wallis Simpson and Edward VIII. This unassuming cushion is a small memento of George VI's coronation and a poignant reminder of the turmoil the relationship caused within the royal family ending in Edwards decision to abdicate.  

I am going to seal the leather and then use this great item to construct a small painting seat, I hope it will live up to Keith Prowse's promise of being the "best seat."